The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve hosted two WorldSBK races on Sunday 30 March - a ten lap Superpole Race and then a planned 20-lap Race Two.

Gerloff was 16th in the Superpole Race but found a new way to ride his Ninja ZX-10RR that allowed him to not only improve his ultimate pace but open a door to future set-up possibilities for the rest of the season.

A red flag halted the second race at half race distance, over concerns about the track condition, and that brought about a final 11-lap Race Two, with full championship points awarded.

Starting from 17th place in Race Two, Garrett improved his feel on the bike and his track position to go 12th in the final classification, take four more championship points, and leave Portimao in 16th place in the overall rankings.

After the Portimao weekend the entire WorldSBK circus packs up its bikes and equipment and heads north, to take part in the always eagerly-anticipated Assen round. The Netherlands round will be held between April 11-13.

Garrett Gerloff, stated: “I am a lot more happy at the end of Sunday than I was yesterday. I just discovered some things that I could do on the bike to help it and in Race Two I was able to go a lot faster than I had been before that. This is still not the position we want to be in but in general I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. Before that, it was looking difficult. Thanks to the team and everybody for coming out and we will try again in two weeks in Assen.”